3 Massachusetts Troopers Charged in Recruit's Death After Boxing Match

Charges are rare in such cases, but investigators say unsafe sparring led to fatal injuries.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:45pm

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An extreme close-up of a police badge reflecting a bright flash of light, conveying the stark and investigative nature of this criminal case.The harsh lighting and dramatic framing of this image evoke the somber and serious nature of the criminal charges against the Massachusetts State Police instructors.Worcester Today

Three Massachusetts State Police tactical unit instructors have pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and causing serious bodily injury charges in the 2024 death of a 25-year-old police recruit, Enrique Delgado-Garcia, who suffered a concussion and blunt force injuries during an 'unapproved and unsafe' boxing match at the police academy.

Why it matters

Charges against law enforcement officers in the deaths of police academy recruits are exceedingly rare, despite an Associated Press investigation finding more than 30 such deaths since 2015 due to a mix of violent training, heat, exertion, and other medical issues. This case highlights the need for greater accountability and oversight of police training practices.

The details

Investigators say Delgado-Garcia suffered a concussion during an earlier sparring session, then sustained 'multiple blunt force injuries to the head and massive brain bleeding' a day later after academy staff failed to stop an unauthorized boxing match. The supervisor, Lt. Jennifer Penton, was also charged with perjury related to grand jury testimony.

  • Delgado-Garcia died on September 13, 2024, a day after the incident.
  • Charges were announced by the state attorney general in February 2026.

The players

Enrique Delgado-Garcia

A 25-year-old police recruit who died after suffering injuries during training at the Massachusetts State Police academy.

Lt. Jennifer Penton

The supervisor of the defensive tactics unit at the Massachusetts State Police academy, charged with involuntary manslaughter, causing serious bodily injury, and perjury.

Trooper Edwin Rodriguez

An instructor in the defensive tactics unit at the Massachusetts State Police academy, charged with involuntary manslaughter and causing serious bodily injury.

Trooper David Montanez

An instructor in the defensive tactics unit at the Massachusetts State Police academy, charged with involuntary manslaughter and causing serious bodily injury.

Andrea Campbell

The Massachusetts Attorney General who appointed an independent investigator to look into Delgado-Garcia's death.

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What they’re saying

“The tragedy of Trooper Delgado is not a crime. Filing these criminal charges will not bring Trooper Delgado-Garcia back. The commonwealth's effort to apply ... convoluted legal theory to the underlying facts will not change them. Nor will it transform this tragedy into criminal conduct.”

— Brad Bailey, Attorney for Lt. Jennifer Penton

“These members and our entire defensive tactics staff are among the best in the nation, and all established protocols were strictly followed.”

— Brian Williams, President of the State Police Association of Massachusetts

“It's so easy for people to say, 'Oh my goodness, that was just too rough.' This is reckless conduct that they're alleging, manslaughter charges that they are alleging against people that were doing their job, consistent with rules, regulations, and what has been recognized as valid training.”

— Kevin Reddington, Attorney for Trooper David Montanez

What’s next

The fourth trooper, Casey LaMonte, is scheduled to be arraigned on April 14. The case will then proceed through the legal system, with the defendants maintaining their not guilty pleas.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater accountability and oversight of police training practices, as well as the rarity of criminal charges being filed in the deaths of police academy recruits despite a troubling trend of such incidents across the country.